A method for monitoring and reporting the need for maintenance of an automated overhead door

Abstract

The present invention relates to door systems and more specifically to a method for monitoring and reporting the need for maintenance of an automated overhead door. The method includes creating an account in the user interface, ordering and assigning the sensor to a specific overhead door, connecting the sensor to the automated overhead door controller, reading the automated overhead door working cycles using the sensor and keeping time records, deriving the maintenance interval for the automated overhead door and calculating the maintenance time based on the work cycles performed and the elapsed time as read from the automated overhead door installation, data exchange between the sensor and the server, the use of online software to monitor and manage the need for technical maintenance of the automated overhead door, and sending an automatic notification to the owner / maintainer when the maintenance time is approaching.

Description

[0001] A method for monitoring and reporting the need for maintenance of an automated overhead door

[0002] Technical field of the invention

[0003] The present invention relates to door systems and more specifically to a method for monitoring and reporting the need for maintenance of an automated overhead door.

[0004] Background of the invention

[0005] Automated door systems (e.g. lift doors, roller doors, sliding gates, wing gates, barriers, industrial doors) are well known from the state of the art. They contain sines, seals, hinges, rollers, roller carriers, panels, etc. All of these components require adjustment and lubrication over the lifetime of the device in order to maintain operational performance and ensure smooth operation. Many safety rules, such as fire safety rules, also require automated systems to operate in a certain way. It is therefore necessary to carry out regular maintenance. The wear and tear of the device depends on its frequency of use, so it is necessary to carry out maintenance at a scheduled time.

[0006] Several systems are known from the state of the art, designed to monitor automated overhead door parameters and maintenance needs. Modern door systems are equipped with mechanical sensors that measure, for example, the speed of movement of the device, the speed of rotation of the motor shaft, or the acceleration / slowing of movement. Various sensors, such as tilt, acceleration, or vibration sensors, are used to measure the parameters.

[0007] For example, US7592767B2 monitors, according to previously entered parameters, the range within which the automated overhead door should work. It also includes a controller that measures whether the automated overhead door is set up correctly. The speed of the automated overhead door, the speed of rotation of the motor shaft, or the acceleration / slowing of the automated overhead door movement shall also be measured. The drawback of this invention is that there is no technology to count the times of use, i.e. working cycles, and thus to predict maintenance time.

[0008] The invention DE4231816C2 uses a tilt, acceleration, or vibration sensor to monitor the operation of the automated overhead door. Similar to the previous patent, when analyzing the data received from these sensors, it decides as to whether the door works correctly but does not monitor the times of use and does not issue notifications directly to the owner. The information from the sensors is sent to the computer. Since this is an outdated patent and the technology has evolved significantly, this invention is not relevant in this context.

[0009] The closest solution is US 2021233385A1 , which has one or more sensors that can detect one or more anomalies in a profile generated by information from one or more sensors and alert the user to the presence of these anomalies. The automated overhead door opening system allows the user to find and contact the service provider to resolve one or more abnormalities. The invention is mainly aimed at tracking and identifying potential technical abnormalities.

[0010] The present invention allows to plan maintenance by reading working cycles and proactively informs / warns the owner / maintainer of the need for maintenance.

[0011] Summary of the invention

[0012] The object of the invention is to provide a method for informing the owner / maintainer of the need for maintenance using web software. The method for monitoring and reporting the maintenance needs of an automated overhead door includes the following steps: reading the automated overhead door working cycles using the sensor and keeping time records connecting the sensor to the automated overhead door controller deriving the maintenance interval for the automated overhead door and calculating the maintenance time based on the working cycles performed and the elapsed time as read from the automated overhead door installation using online software to monitor and manage the need for technical maintenance of the automated overhead door, exchanging data between the sensor and the server, and sending an automatic notification to the owner / maintainer from the server through the data network to the user interface when the maintenance time is approaching

[0013] The connection between the sensor and the server is created by LTE-M network technology, which is a low-energy and wide-range wireless communications network.

[0014] The reading of working cycles is carried out through the monitoring position of the automated overhead door and the data communication device is loaded with web software for data monitoring.

[0015] The sensors are assigned a unique IMEI code, an eSIM ICCID code, and a serial number for connection to an automated overhead door.

[0016] List of illustrations

[0017] The drawings show the steps of the method of the invention

[0018] Embodiment

[0019] The figure shows the steps of the method of the invention, which are described in more detail using an embodiment.

[0020] To implement the invention, in the first step of the method, a user account is created for the user in the service provider's user interface (2). The user interface (2) manages information related to the automated overhead door (1) and allows the user to control the door (open, close, stop) using the sensor (3).

[0021] In the second step of the method, the sensor (3) is ordered and assigned to a specific automated overhead door (1). Each sensor (3) has a unique IMEI code, SIM ICCID code, and serial number. The user interface (2) only displays a sensor (3) with an IMEI code assigned to the user, which is associated with the automated overhead door (1) that the user wants to monitor. .

[0022] In the next step of the method, the sensor (3) is connected to the controller (4). After physically connecting the sensor (3) and the controller (4), the sensor (3) starts transmitting the inherited information to the server (5) through the MQTT protocol. The MQTT protocol is based on the publish-subscribe principle. The sensor (3) transmits the following data: • Time, i.e. the time of operation of the sensor (3) from the time of connection to the network in milliseconds;

[0023] • Number of launches, i.e. the number of launches made during the life of the sensor (3);

[0024] • Number of failed software updates, i.e. how many times the last successful software update has failed;

[0025] • Inputs;

[0026] • Outputs;

[0027] • Number of working cycles, i.e. the number of working cycles raised from 0;

[0028] • Strength of the RSSI signal;

[0029] • Quality of the RSRQ signal;

[0030] • Software version - shows which version of the software is loaded onto the sensor;

[0031] • Hardware version - shows which version of the hardware is involved.

[0032] By assigning a sensor (3) to a specific automated overhead door (1), the following step allows the user to monitor the working cycles of the automated overhead door (1) to prevent maintenance. In turn, the maintenance of the automated overhead door (1) and the number of cycles remaining until the end of the life of the door spring are derived from the working cycles. The method allows monitoring:

[0033] (1) the entire life cycle of the automated overhead door (1);

[0034] (2) the working cycles remaining until maintenance; and

[0035] (3) the working cycles remaining until the end of the life of the door spring.

[0036] The next maintenance time is calculated by the system based on the working cycles performed and the time based on the number of days and months counted since the connection to the network. The next maintenance date is derived according to whichever comes first - either time (for example, two times a year) or the maintenance interval provided by the door manufacturer. Monitoring shall be carried out according to the direction of operation of the engine of the two- position switch, one-position switch, or automation.

[0037] The reading of the working cycles is performed by monitoring the position of the automated overhead door (1). One working cycle is when the automated overhead door (1) leaves its initial position and returns to its initial position. For this, the position switches of the controller (4) are connected to the status monitoring inputs of the sensor (3). This gives the sensor (3) information when the automated overhead door (1) has left its initial position. When the automated overhead door (1) returns to its initial position, the sensor (3) understands that the automated overhead door (1) has moved up and down once.

[0038] The working cycles are also given by the manufacturers of the automated overhead door (1), according to which maintenance must be carried out to maintain the safety and life of the automated overhead door (1). Measuring the speed / vibrations etc. of the automated overhead door (1) does not give specific information about when maintenance should be done. For example, if the number of cycles given for maintenance is 5,000, the present invention makes it possible to see already at 4,000 that maintenance needs to be done soon and it can be planned. Vibration / velocity measurements have no relation to working cycles, according to which the doors must be maintained.

[0039] Data exchange between the sensor (3) and the server (5) is performed using LTE-M network technology. The network is created using an eSIM component which is soldered to the circuit board and provides the necessary connection to the data exchange.

[0040] The method according to the invention proactively plans and notifies the owner / maintainer that the maintenance time is approaching. It can be imagined as a car maintenance interval, which notifies the need for maintenance a few months before when starting the car but also sends this information to the party performing the maintenance.

[0041] Web software means complete software that consists of a user interface (Ul), an application code, a database, a server, etc. The user monitors from the user interface when the maintenance time is approaching. The input that maintenance is required is sent from the server (5) and displayed to the user in the user interface (2).

[0042] The present invention does not only need to be restricted to automated overhead doors (1) but also works in the same way with other products, such as roller doors, sliding gates, wing gates, and barriers.

[0043] It is clear to the person skilled in the art that the scope of protection of the invention disclosed in the claims is not limited to the embodiment examples presented but also covers solutions that differ from those described in terms of non-essential features of the nature of the present invention.

Claims

Claims1. A method for monitoring and reporting the need for maintenance of an automated overhead door (1) comprising the following steps: reading the automated overhead door (1) working cycles using the sensor (3) and keeping time records, connecting the sensor (3) and the controller (4), deriving the maintenance interval for the automated overhead door (1) and calculating the maintenance time based on the working cycles performed and the elapsed time as read from the automated overhead door (1) installation, the use of online software to monitor and manage the need for technical maintenance of the automated overhead door (1), data exchange between the sensor (3) and the server (5), and sending data from the server (5), wherein according to one step, a reminder is sent from the server (5) to the owner / maintainer that maintenance is required and displayed to the user in a user interface (2) that allows maintenance to be scheduled.

2. A method for monitoring and reporting the need for maintenance of an automated overhead door (1) according to claim 1 , characterized in that the connection between the sensor (3) and the server (5) is established using LTE-M network technology.

3. A method for monitoring and reporting the need for maintenance of an automated overhead door (1) according to the preceding claims, characterized in that the reading of the working cycles is performed by monitoring the position of the automated overhead door (1).

4. A method for monitoring and reporting the need for maintenance of an automated overhead door (1) according to the preceding claims, characterized in that the data communication device is loaded with web software for data monitoring.

5. A method for monitoring and reporting the need for maintenance of an automated overhead door (1) according to the preceding claims, characterized in that the sensors (3) are assigned a unique IMEI code, an eSIM ICCID code, and a serial number for connection to the door.

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